Today we celebrate the birth of Lord Robert Baden Powell, founder of the scouting movement. Thanks to Baden Powell’s efforts the scouting movement still strives today. So thanks BP, for helping to shape our youth for tomorrow and deliver the promise of scouting! You can read more about Baden Powell on Wikipedia here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Baden-Powell,_1st_Baron_Baden-Powell
So for this week’s Gear Head Friday we are going to talk about stoves. Before I tell you what I think let me share with you the results of a poll I conducted using google forms to find out what others use.
Scouter Jeff, @scoutjeff, http://trainerscorner.wordpress.com said, ” Most of my experience is car camping, with Cub Scouts and as a family. Regularly use a Coleman two-burner stove hooked up via a Tee to a propane tank. I hook a Coleman one-burner stove to this Tee to give me an extra burner. These two stoves are very dependable. Right now, these are my stoves of choice.
I did own a Camp Chef large two-burner free standing stove. This was way too large for my family’s usage, but we used it a lot in Webelos when I took the den (and their parents) out Camping. After Cub Scouts, I donated it to my Boy Scout troop (who uses these types of stoves on car campouts).
I recently bought two Brunton Raptor stoves, that my son and I have been playing with at home. I am planning to use this as my backpacking stove now that me and my son are in Boy Scouts.”
Scoutmaster Shawn, @sm_shawn, http://truenorthscouting.com, said, “I must say that I have never used a Coleman-type stove to a major degree. I don’t find a big use for them, as a backpacking stoves, Dutch Oven cooking and open fire suit my cooking needs. I like my Brunton Raptor stoves…they are compact, reliable and relatively inexpensive. The stove doesn’t have anything that makes it stand out, other than a piezo-ignition…for the same cost as a Pocket Rocket from MSR, I don’t have to worry about matches, even though scouts always have many needs to make fire, and it’s easy for my new scouts to use.
Dutch Oven cooking….heheh, I will just say that it’s Kingsford or it’s crap. And I only use Lodge Dutch Ovens…that’s all I have to say about that…[in a Forrest Gump voice]
Todd White, @scoutsigns, http://scoutsigns.blogspot.com, said, “I’ve never had a camp stove experience to rival cooking over a fire. That’s the only way our troop cooks.”
Gary Knapp, @garyknapp, said “I have a Coleman exopnent, a Brunton Raptor, a Jetboil and a Coleman two burner propane. The troop has Coleman two and three burner propane stoves. The Coleman multiburner stoves are the Standard in multiburner campstoves as far as I’m concerned. The Coleman exponent is my first hiking stove and a bit on the large side. Great stove and I passed it on to my son this fall. Looking for a replacement to the Coleman I picked up the Brunton raptor. It is a good all around stove for the pack it packs small and the Piezo starter works great. I stumbled on the Jetboil PCS marked down to $66 and could not pass it up. I hope to expand it to the Back country kit and add the GCS pot in the future.”
Last but not least, Scoutmaster Jerry, @smjerry, www.thescoutmasterminute.net, said “Where to start?? I am a certified Gear geek. Stoves seem to be a fascination of mine. I have the Jetboil Helios, The Snow Peak Giga Power, the MSR Whisper Lite, and various other stoves. My favorite stove in the winter is the MSR Whisper lite. It is extremely reliable and has never failed me. It has great boil times and is a great simmer stove. It uses multiple fuels and without a doubt a great piece of gear in my pack. The other stove that I will not leave out of my pack is the Snow Peak Giga Power.
It is a great stove for quick boils and it will simmer too. I have used it in all weather conditions and it never fails. It is a canister fuel stove, so as long as you keep you fuel “warm” it will run well.
I love it for backpacking, its small, light, and a great addition to my pack. Couple it with my Snow Peak 700 pot.. fantastic gear.”
So it seems we have a wide range of methods here. With some favoring cooking over and open fire and dutch oven cooking to others who only use backpacking stoves. Our troop doesn’t do a lot of backpacking so for us dual burner propane stoves work very well. In my experience I have found propane stoves a joy to cook with as they are easy to light, easy to simmer on and cook very well and they work very well in all weather. The only problem with propane is that you have to pack out and recycle bulky canisters or haul around a large refillable tank. Another great option is liquid fuel stoves. These are the other type of stoves my troop has. We have used multiburner Coleman liquid fuel stoves for as long as I can remember. These stoves are a bit harder to use than propane because they must be primed and are a bit harder to light. Liquid fuel stoves also do well in all weather although you must be very careful when filling them in cold weather because the fuel freezes at lower temperatures than water, causing instant frostbite. I can’t say much about canister stoves and other types of backpacking stoves since I have never used them. The best person to ask about backpacking stoves is our resident gear geek, Scoutmaster Jerry. What ever way you cook outdoors keep the good food coming and have fun!
With the olympics in full swing I thought the Snow Sports merit badge was quite appropriate. Skiing and snowboarding our great winter pastimes enjoyed by many scouts and scouters. So here are the requirements:
Discuss winter sports safety, and show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while skiing or riding, including hypothermia, frostbite, shock, dehydration, sunburn, fractures, bruises, sprains, and strains. Tell how to apply splints.
Explain why every skier or snowboarder should be prepared to render first aid in the event of an accident.
Explain the procedure used to report an accident to the local ski patrol for the area where you usually ski or ride.
Do EACH of the following:
a. Tell the meaning of the Your Responsibility Code for skiers and snow-boarders. Explain why each rider must follow this code.
b. Explain the Smart Style safety program. Tell why it is important and how it applies to skiers and snowboarders in terrain parks and pipes.
c. Explain the precautions pertaining to avalanche safety, including the responsibility of individuals regarding avalanche safety.
d. Tell the meaning of the Wilderness Use Policy. Explain why each skier and snowboarder must adopt this policy.
Complete all of the requirements for ONE of the following options: downhill (Alpine) skiing or cross-country (Nordic) or snowboarding.
DOWNHILL (ALPINE) SKIING
a. Show how to use and maintain your own release bindings and explain the use of two others. Explain the international DIN standard and what it means to skiers.
b. Explain the American Teaching System and a basic snow-skiing progression
c. Name the major ski organizations in the United States and explain their functions.
d. Discuss the five types of Alpine skis. Demonstrate two ways to carry skis and poles safely and easily.
e. Explain the importance of strength, endurance, and flexibility in downhill skiing. Demonstrate exercises and activities you can do to get fit for skiing.
f. Present yourself properly clothed and equipped for downhill skiing. Discuss how the clothing you have chosen will keep you warm and protected.
g. Demonstrate how to ride one kind of lift and explain how to ride two others.
h. Explain the international trail-marking system.
i. On a gentle slope, demonstrate some of the beginning maneuvers learned in skiing. Include the straight run, gliding wedge, wedge stop, sidestep, and herringbone maneuvers.
j. On slightly steeper terrain, show linked wedge turns.
k. On a moderate slope, demonstrate five to 10 christies.
l. Make a controlled run down an intermediate slope and demonstrate the following:
1. Short-, medium-, and long-radius parallel turns
2. A sideslip and safety (hockey) stop to each side
3. Traverse across a slope
m. Demonstrate the ability to ski in varied conditions, including changes in pitch, snow conditions, and moguls. Maintain your balance and ability to turn.
CROSS-COUNTRY (NORDIC) SKIING
a. Show your ability to select, use, and repair, if necessary, the correct equipment for ski touring in safety and comfort.
b. Discuss classical and telemark skis. Demonstrate two ways to carry skis safely and easily.
c. Discuss the basic principles of waxing for cross-country ski touring.
d. Discuss the differences between cross-country skiing, ski touring, ski and downhill skiing.
e. Explain the importance of strength, endurance, and flexibility in cross-country skiing. Demonstrate exercises and activities you can do to get fit for skiing.
f. List items you would take on a one-day ski tour.
g. Present yourself properly clothed and equipped for a one-day ski tour. Discuss the correct use of your clothing and equipment, and how the clothing you have chosen will keep you warm and protected.
h. Demonstrate the proper use of a topographic map and compass.
i. Show a degree of stamina that will enable you to keep up with an average ski-touring group your age.
j. On a gentle, packed slope, show some basic ways to control speed and direction. Include the straight run, traverse, sideslip, step turn, wedge stop, and wedge turn maneuvers.
k. On a cross-country trail, demonstrate effective propulsion by showing proper weight transfer from ski to ski, pole timing, rhythm, flow, and glide.
l. Demonstrate your ability, on a tour, to cope with an average variety of snow conditions.
m. Demonstrate several methods of dealing with steep hills or difficult conditions. Include traverses and kick turns going uphill and downhill, sidesteps, pole drag, and ski-pole “glissade.”
SNOWBOARDING
a. Discuss forward-fall injuries. Tell about prevention and what action must be taken in the event of any type of injury or accident.
b. Do the following:
1. Demonstrate your ability to select the correct equipment for snowboarding and to use it for safety and comfort.
2. Present yourself properly clothed and equipped for snowboarding. Discuss how the clothing you have chosen will keep you warm and protected.
c. Show how to use and maintain your own bindings, and explain the use of the different binding methods. Explain the need for leashes.
d. Discuss the four types of snowboards. Demonstrate how to carry a snowboard easily and safely.
e. Demonstrate exercises and activities that will get you fit for snowboarding.
f. Demonstrate how to ride one kind of lift and explain how to ride two others.
g. Explain the international trail-marking system.
h. Demonstrate the basic principles of waxing a snowboard.
i. Do the following:
1. On a gentle slope, demonstrate beginning snowboarding maneuvers. Show basic ways to control speed and direction. Include the sideslipping maneuver.
2. On slightly steeper terrain, show traversing.
j. On a moderate slope, demonstrate an ollie, a nose-end grab, and a wheelie.
k. Make a controlled run down an intermediate slope and demonstrate the following:
1. Skidded, carved, and jump turns
2. Stops
3. Riding fakie
l. Demonstrate your ability to ride in varied conditions, including changes in pitch, snow conditions, and moguls. Maintain your balance and ability to turn.
m. Name the major snowboarding organizations in the United States and explain their functions.
I don’t ski or snowboard so I don’t have any tips as to completing these requirements. Finding a counselor for this will vary depending on your location and climate.
